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The Law Serves You Hold Telephone Demonstra tion Robert Wiles, an" employee of the Illinois Bell Telephone company, recently made a presentation on how the telephone works to students in Hilltop school's second grades. Wiles is one of the many community people who are making an important contribution to the education of Hilltop's boys and girls. His daughter, Deborah, is a student in Mrs. Haasl's second grade class. Special Court Provides Justice In Small Sizes You would like to collect that "little old debt" somebody owe^to you if it didn't cost too mucn money to take the issue to court? If so, you'll be interested to hear about Small Claims court, the law's way of handling disputes in which the amount at stake is not more than $1,000, exclusive of any costs or in­ terest which may be due. According to the Illinois State Bar association, many people like yourself would probably be making use of Small Claims court, a function of Circuit court, if they only knew about it. Set up under rules of the Illinois Supreme court, the court allows a person to bring in a case for a nominal filing fee, usually about $7 if the amount claimed is $500 or less or $10 ($11 in Cook County) if the claim is from $500 to $1,000. While most people might use a lawyer, this is not required. On technical legal points, the judge acts as referee, so nobody is at a disadvantage simply because he is not familiar with the law or courtroom procedure. To get your case on the court's docket, you pay the filing fee and submit a short, simple complaint, stating your name, address, telephone number, similar information about the other party--the defendant-and describing the nature and extent of your claim. The court usually provides a printed form for this purpose. You could state your claim as briefly and simply as "A limb from a tree on his property fell on my garage, causing damages of $150 which he has refused to pay," or "Rather than trade in my old car, I sold it to him but he has failed to make payments totaling $300." The record of any expenses you incurred, or bill of sale or other documents in support of your claim, should be attached to your statement Next, a summons to appear in court is served on the defendant. It can be served by certified mail to an address within the county for a fee of $1.50 or the sheriff's depart­ ment can deliver the summons at a cost based on the time and distance involved. Or, you may be able to serve the summons yourself. It isn't necessary for the (defendant to file a formal answer to the summons unless ordered to do so by the court. Usually, all he must do is ap­ pear in court at the date and time stated in the summons. The hearing, or trial, is conducted in an informal at­ mosphere. Each party is given an opportunity to state his case. Even if one party is represented by legal counsel, this should not put the other PAGE 9-PLAINDEALER-FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 1972 S1 party at a disadvantage, since strict rules concerning evidence, objections and testimony are not followed. Also, the usual methods of gathering* evidence prior to a trial by depositions and in­ terrogations are not allowed except by special permission of the court. In most cases, the judge will render the verdict himself although if either party has requested a jury, one will be provided. A jury of six is provided, at a charge of $12.50, unless a jury of 12 is specifically requested, in which case the charge is $25. If the court rules in favor of the plaintiff, a judgment, in­ cluding court costs is rendered against the defendant, who may be allowed to pay in in­ stallments. As the ISBA observes, the beauty of Small Claims Court is that even if you lose the argument, you aren't out much money. People who knov\ nothing about a problem can give you an answer without wait­ ing to think. CONSUMERS' CORNIR^Sgfe Shrinking, snagging, bagging) These are some of the problems you can expect with double knits. Keep this in mind while you're shopping. What you may consider a real bargain, just because it's labeled "double knit," may turn out to be a real lemon. Judge the quality of knit before you buy. You'll have less trouble with shrinking, snagging, or bagging if you buy a knit that has more yarn per square infch. In other words, look at the closeness of the knit and the uni­ formity of the knited loops. Com­ pare it to other knits. If the fabric is loosely knitted, or the yarns themselves are not tightly twisted, he fabric may shrink, snag, or bag. For a good quality knit, check for tightly twisted yarns and a closely knit fabric. You can find these in both lightweight or heavyweight knits. These are the fabrics that will be good bargains. Another precaution in knit shopping: watch out for sizing. It's a type of finish put on some knits to give them more body. Sizing wears off rapidly and the fabric ends up a raggy, limp piece. Feel the knit before you buy. Sizing tends to flake off so you can detect that it's there. >4 The ancient Writ of Habeas Corpus is under attack in the U.S. Congress. This landmark of the Common Law established by Magna Carta in 1215 A.D. was employed originally to secure release from arbitrary detention. It is guaranteed by Article I of the federal Constitution. The existing federal statute setting forth the procedures for habeas corpus petitions was enacted in 1867 in order to prevent denial of civil rights during the period immediately following the Civil War. After lying virtually dormant for more than 75 years, the statute gained currency among prison in­ mates beginning in about 1953 when the United States Supreme court in reviewing a criminal conviction criticized sharply the practices of Illinois courts. Thereafter habeas corpus was employed in­ creasingly by prisoners as a device for securing Federal court review of state court proceedings under which they were convicted of crimes. The expanding number of such cases reached more than 9,000 in 1970 - with the result that Federal District court dockets have become cluttered and the staffs of State At­ torneys General have been enlarged to defend against McCLORY REPORTS From Washington these proceedings for release from prison sentences The Illinois General Assembly has established a comprehensive post conviction practice which permits a full review of all Constitutional rights to which convicted criminals were legitimately entitled. Most other states now have followed the Illinois pattern. However, in some state court proceedings, in­ stances continue to occur where defendants in criminal cases have been deprived of their Constitutional rights (a) to counsel or (b) to be con­ fronted with the witnesses against them -- or because of the denial of some other basic Constitutional rights. The measure pending before the House Judiciary committee would not jeopardize the right to a writ of habeas corpus for review in such cases. Arguments presented by various attorneys general emphasizing the large number of "frivolous" petitions for habeas corpus -- and estimating the small number of petitions which are "meritorious" -- were not too convincing. Such arguments must yield to the principle that no fundamental rights should be denied or abridged which might enable even one innocent victim to be released from prison following an erroneous conviction. No witnesses representing civil liberties organizations -- bar associations or other groups - have yet testified on this measure. Efforts to relieve the federal courts and states attorneys general of useless litigation are most persuasive; but in­ dividual rights, even of those imprisoned, should not be diluted by denial of an existing remedy - unless other equally adequate remedies pre available. Hi scipline is something every child must learn but the lesson requires a wise teacher. HERB mn ERT F. I CLAUSEN FOR REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE COMMITTEEMAN 33rd DISTRICT YOUR VOTE ON MARCH 21st WILL BE APPRECIATED Paid for by Herbert F. Clausen - McHenry YARN DYED 58" to 60" Wide Solids, Fancies, Jacquards Crepes,Diagonals,Ottomans, v*# V jr Double Knits Ftc - Hey. $4.99 £"00 BSE8 WWW WW* SHOP IN OUR 2 Woodstock fabrics 232 N. Main St.-WoodstockJII. STORES IN THIS ' \ R E A yOODSTOCP d 11U | ̂ ^ ^ HAMPSHIRE t \ The Fabric Store 194 S. State St.-Hampshire,III. 1 ; V HOURS: V,ON.,TUES. 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